Grapple with semi-automatic latch

ABSTRACT

A grapple has a cross beam adapted to rest on the flat top of a drum extending diametrically thereacross and a slide adapted for limited movement up or down with respect to the beam and secured to hoist means. The beam has a lever pivotally secured thereto at each end, the upper end of each lever being pivotally connected to one end of a link and the lever lower ends being provided with grip means for engaging the side of the drum. The other ends of the links are pivotally secured to the slide so that when the slide is raised the grip means move toward and grip the drum sides. A hook and a triangular weight are rotatably mounted on a bolt projecting from the beam at its center, the pin passing through a hole in the top of the hook and a hole in one corner of the weight. The hook has a pin projecting therefrom for engaging the weight on one side or the other as the weight is swung arcuately around the bolt. A bar secured to the beam has a lower end engageable by the hook. When the weight is on one side of the hook pin it biases the hook to automatically release the load when the load is next lowered. When the weight is on the other side it biases the hook for automatic pick-up of a load.

United States Patent 1191 Lighthipe, Jr. et a1.

[ Feb. 5, 1974 [5 GRAPPLE WITH SEMI-AUTOMATIC LATCH [75] Inventors: Charles H. Lighthipe, Jr., Liverpool;

Robert R. Andrews, Syracuse, both of N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Morse Manufacturing Co., Inc.,

Syracuse, NY.

[22] Filed: Jan. 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 322,614

52 US. Cl. 294/110 R, 294/106 51 Int. (:1. B66c 1/42 58 Field of Search 294/67 BC, 81 R, 86 R, 90,

Primary Examiner--Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bruns & Jenney ABSTRACT A grapple has a cross beam adapted to rest on the flat top of a drum extending diametrically thereacross and a slide adapted for limited movement up or down with respect to the beam and secured to hoist means. The beam has a lever pivotally secured thereto at each end, the upper end of each lever being pivotally connected to one end of a link and the lever lower ends being provided with grip means for engaging the side of the drum. The other ends of the links are pivotally secured to the slide so that when the slide is raised the grip means move toward and grip the drum sides. A hook and a triangular weight are rotatably mounted on a bolt projecting from the beam at its center, the pin passing through a hole in the "top of the hook and a hole in one corner of the weight. The hook has a pin projecting therefrom for engaging the weight on one side or the other as the weight is swung, arcuately around the bolt. A bar secured to the beam has a lower end engageable by the hook. When the weight is 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED 51974 SHEET 1 Hi 3 FIG, 2

PATENTED FEB 5 I974 SHEEI 2 BF 3 PATENTEDFEB 51914 SHEET 3 OF 3 FIGQ BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to grapples for grasping heavy objects and, in conjunction with hoist means, for raising and depositing them elsewhere and releasing them. The grapple includes latch means which may be manually set either for automatic release of the object or for automatic pick-up thereof. I

Prior art grapples include those with automatic latch means, which can be controlled for pick-up or release by raising and lowering the grapple to a more or less elevated degree, and those with semi-automatic latch means which are manually set for either automatic release or automatic pick-up. All of the known grapple latch means are difficult to control by controlling the hoist means or are unreliable in the action of the latch.

The primary object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a grapple with manually setable latch means which are positive in action and simple and reliable in operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a two part grapple, the first part being provided with load gripping means and the second part being connected to the hoist means and slideable up with respect to the first part for operating the gripping means and down for releasing the gripping means. Latch means are provided pendant from the sliding part and comprising a hook and a weight both rotatably secured on a horizontally extending bolt secured to the sliding part. The bolt passes through a hole in the upper ends of the hook and the weight which are mounted side by side on the bolt. The weight may be rotated from a position engaging a projection from the hook on one side to a position engaging the projection on the other side, thus biasing the hook in one direction or the other.

Cooperating with the hook, a bar secured to the first grapple part has a lower end which is engageable by the hook when it is biased in one direction and the slide part is lowered with respect to the first part for latching the two grapple parts together thus holding the gripping means released. When the hook is biased in the other direction it is released from engagement with the bar end when the slide part is lowered with respect to the first grapple part for allowing the slide part to operate the gripping means for grasping the load when the slide part is again raised.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a grapple device with a semiautomatic latch according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof showing the grapple engaging a load and the latch set for automatic release;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the load released;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the latch shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the latch portion of FIG. 2 just prior to latching;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the latch engaged;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the latch set for automatically picking up a load; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the latch released for picking up a load.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a grapple 10 comprises a transversely extending flat beam 11 provided at each end with parallel extension plates 12 welded to each side extending beyond the beam so as to form a bracket on each side of an upwardly extending lever arm 13. Lever arms 13 are pivotally secured between plates 12 by a pin or bolt 14. The lever arms 13 are each provided at their lower ends with a bracket 15 adapted to engage diametrically opposite sides of a load 16, here shown as a drum, the brackets 15 being provided with a curved surface 17 (FIG. 1) for engagement with the drum as seen in FIG. 2. The beam 11 is provided with a pad 18 at its bottom at each end extending transversely of the beam (FIG. 1) for engagement with the top of the drum.

Welded to the top of beam 11 are two upwardly extending tower members 19, each having a top plate 20 welded thereto at the top and projecting on each side of members 19. Extending across between the towers 19 is the cross bar 21 of a slide assembly 22, best seen in FIG. 2. Also included in this assembly are two upwardly extending members 23 welded to the cross bar 21. Between members 23 and welded thereto and to cross bar 21, a ring 24 is adapted to have a rope or chain 25 secured thereto by which the grapple is raised and lowered by a craneor other hoist, not shown.

At each end cross bar 21 has a pair of spaced links 26 pivotally secured thereto by a pin or bolt 27. The other end of each pair of links is pivotally secured at 28 by a suitable pin or bolt to the upper end of a respective lever arm 13.

Secured to the slide cross bar 211 is a headed bolt 29 on which is mounted a latch assembly 30 comprising a hook 31 and a pendant weight 32, best seen in plan in FIG. 4, the bolt extending through ahole in one end of the hook and a hole in one corner of the triangular weight. Both the hook and the weight are rotatable on the pin 29, the book being spaced from cross bar 21 by one of the attaching nuts 33 and the weight being spaced from the book by a tubular spacer 34. A pin 35 projects from the hook so as to be engageable by the weight when it is swung from one side to the other, as indicated by the arrow 36 in FIG. 3, to bias the hook in one direction or the other.

Cooperating with the latch assembly 30, is a short bar 37 welded to the side of beam 11 slanting upward and to the right in FIG. 2. The lower end of bar 37 is slanted to end in a vertical surface providing an edge or point at the bottom which is engageable by the hook 31 as shown at 38, the lift point in FIGS. 58. The work end of the hook also is slanted upward and to the right, as shown in FIG. 6, so as to stay in engagement with the lift point so long as the weight of beam 11 and associated parts is borne by the hook 31 as shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7.

It will now be apparent that the slide assembly 22 is free to slide up or down with respect to beam 11 except when hook 31 is engaged with the lift point 38. The links 26 extend in spaced pairs on either side of the tower members 19 and guide cross bar 21 between the members 19. When the slide is raised the top ends of the lever arms 13 are biased outward by levers 26, the

drum 16 being engaged by brackets 15. When a drum is not so engaged, the slide 22 is limited in its upward travel by the links 26 engaging top plates 20 on the tower members.

Assuming that it is desired to raise a load 16 and deposit it elsewhere, the grapple is lowered over a drum and guided by a loader, is placed with pads 18 resting on the drum top. The grapple is raised by the hoist to the position shown in FIG. 2 to engage brackets with diametrically opposite sides of the drum, the loader making sure that weight 32 is swung to the position shown in FIG. 2 for automatic deposit of the drum.

When the drum is moved to the desired deposit point by the crane or other hoist, the crane operator lowers the drum to the desired place and, by lowering the grapple further, allows the slide 22 to approach the beam 11, as shown in FIG. 5. Hook 31, biased by the weight to the right in FIG. 5, strikes the bar 37 and is guided thereby until the hook end passes beyond the lift point 38. The weight 32 then biases the hook 31 into engagement with the lift point, as shown in FIG. 6, and the drum is automatically released.

When the grapple is returned to the loading point it is again lowered to another drum and the hook disengaged by the loader and the cycle is then repeated.

Should the loader be stationed at the deposit point, or elsewhere, automatic pick-up can be ensured by swinging weight 32 to the position shown in FIG. 7, the hook being engaged with lift point 38 and held there by the frictional engagement of hook 31 and lift point 38. When the grapple 10 is lowered with pads 18 resting on a drum to pick it up, cross bar 21 rests on the beam 11 and hook 31 is disengaged from lift point 38. The weight 32 now biases the hook to swing to the left in FIG. 8 and when grapple 10 is again raised the slide 22 is free to move upward actuating the levers 13 to grasp the load.

It will be apparent that the loader or unloader may be stationed at the point of unloading or at any other station between the points of loading and unloading to set the latch 30 for automatic pick-up as shown in FIG. 7.

We claim:

1. In combination with a two part grapple having a first slide portion adapted to be secured to hoist means and guided for slideable up and down movement with respect to the second portion, the second portion adapted to be placed on top ofa load and having an upwardly extending lever pivotally secured to each end, the lower ends of the levers extending below the second portion and having gripping means secured thereto for gripping engagement with opposite sides of the load, the upper ends of the levers being pivotally secured to one end of respective link means, the other ends of the link means being pivotally secured to the slide portion for moving the gripping means into engagement with the load sides when the slide portion is moved upward; semi-automatic latch means, comprising: a hook member and a weight rotatably suspended side-by-side from a bolt through their upper ends, the bolt being secured to the slide portion of the grapple and extending horizontally therefrom, and a bar below the hook secured to the second grapple portion and having a lower end adapted to engage the hook when the slide portion is lowered, the hook having a projection thereon adapted to be engaged by the weight on one side to bias the hook toward engagement with the bar lower end and adapted to be engaged by the weight on the other side to bias the hook away from the bar end when the weight is swung on its bolt from one side to the other.

2. The latch means defined in claim 1 wherein the weight is triangular and suspended from one of its corners, the hook having its hook portion slanted upward and toward the bar end for frictional engagement with the bar end regardless of bias when the latch is engaged, and the latch bar is slanted upward and away from the open end of the hook for guiding the hook end into engagement when the slide portion of the grapple is lowered.

3. A grapple with a semi-automatic latch for lifting drums, comprising: a beam member adapted to rest on a drum top extending diametrically thereacross with both ends projecting therebeyond, a lever pivotally secured to each of the beam projecting ends, each lever extending below the beam and thereabove, means adapted to grip a drum-side secured to each lever lower end, a slide adapted to be secured to hoist means, the beam having an upwardly projecting way adapted to guide the slide for limited upward and downward movement with respect to the beam, link means pivotally secured to each side of the slide, the other end of each link means being pivotally secured to the upper end of a respective lever for biasing the grip means against a drum when the slide is raised, a horizontally projecting bolt secured to the slide at its center, a camming bar secured to the beam and having its lower end pointed and under the bolt, a pendant hook and a pendant triangular weight rotatably mounted at their tops side-by-side on the bolt, the hook having a projection adapted to be engaged on one side or the other by the weight when it is rotated about the bolt for biasing the hook in one direction or the other, the hook having its lower end adapted to be cammed by the bar into engagement with the lower end of the bar when the hook is biased in one direction for automatic release of a drum and adapted to be biased away from the bar when biased in the other direction for automatic pick-up of a drum. 

1. In combination with a two part grapple having a first slide portion adapted to be secured to hoist means and guided for slideable up and down movement with respect to the second portion, the second portion adapted to be placed on top of a load and having an upwardly extending lever pivotally secured to each end, the lower ends of the levers extending below the second portion and having gripping means secured thereto for gripping engagement with opposite sides of the load, the upper ends of the levers being pivotally secured to one end of respective link means, the other ends of the link means being pivotally secured to the slide portion for moving the gripping means into engagement with the load sides when the slide portion is moved upward; semi-automatic latch means, comprising: a hook member and a weight rotatably suspended side-by-side from a bolt through their upper ends, the bolt being secured to the slide portion of the grapple and extending horizontally therefrom, and a bar below the hook secured to the second grapple portion and having a lower end adapted to engage the hook when the slide portion is lowered, the hook having a projection thereon adapted to be engaged by the weight on one side to bias the hook toward engagement with the bar lower end and adapted to be engaged by the weight on the other side to bias the hook away from the bar end when the weight is swung on its bolt from one side to the other.
 2. The latch means defined in claim 1 wherein the weight is triangular and suspended from one of its corners, the hook having its hook portion slanted upward and toward the bar end fOr frictional engagement with the bar end regardless of bias when the latch is engaged, and the latch bar is slanted upward and away from the open end of the hook for guiding the hook end into engagement when the slide portion of the grapple is lowered.
 3. A grapple with a semi-automatic latch for lifting drums, comprising: a beam member adapted to rest on a drum top extending diametrically thereacross with both ends projecting therebeyond, a lever pivotally secured to each of the beam projecting ends, each lever extending below the beam and thereabove, means adapted to grip a drum-side secured to each lever lower end, a slide adapted to be secured to hoist means, the beam having an upwardly projecting way adapted to guide the slide for limited upward and downward movement with respect to the beam, link means pivotally secured to each side of the slide, the other end of each link means being pivotally secured to the upper end of a respective lever for biasing the grip means against a drum when the slide is raised, a horizontally projecting bolt secured to the slide at its center, a camming bar secured to the beam and having its lower end pointed and under the bolt, a pendant hook and a pendant triangular weight rotatably mounted at their tops side-by-side on the bolt, the hook having a projection adapted to be engaged on one side or the other by the weight when it is rotated about the bolt for biasing the hook in one direction or the other, the hook having its lower end adapted to be cammed by the bar into engagement with the lower end of the bar when the hook is biased in one direction for automatic release of a drum and adapted to be biased away from the bar when biased in the other direction for automatic pick-up of a drum. 